Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is out with its manifesto, less than a week before the Phase 1 voting for the Bihar assembly elections 2025, making mega promises to provide one crore government jobs in a state known for mass migration. Special focus has been on women empowerment schemes, setting an ambitious target of turning a crore women into ‘lakhpati didis’, besides a major infrastructure push that includes the construction of four international airports and seven expressways in Bihar. The NDA has also promised to build 50 lakh new pucca houses and provide free ration, 125 units of free electricity, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, and social security pension under the PM Awas Yojana.
The NDA’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ was released by BJP chief JP Nadda and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on October 31, in the presence of senior leaders of the alliance. The alliance comprises the BJP, JDU, Chirag Paswan’s LJP, and other parties.
The biggest announcement was about employment opportunities in a state that sees a massive migration of workers every year. If elected again, the NDA promised to conduct a skill census to provide skill-based employment to every youth in Bihar. “We will establish Bihar as a global skilling centre with mega skill centres in every district,” read the manifesto. Besides, several ‘Centres of Excellence’ for sports will come up in Bihar Sports City and other divisions, the manifesto read.
Through the Chief Minister’s Women’s Employment Scheme, financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh will be provided to women. The NDA also vowed to make a crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, effectively empowering women to earn a lakh annually. The alliance also aspires to turn women entrepreneurs into crorepatis through ‘Mission Crorepati.’
